Non existent macros are not replaced

[Daniel Wittenberg]

I'm not sure I quite understand then.  Where I've gotten bit by this is
where a value doesn't get passed from another script, maybe in that case
the value isn't available. So it's not a matter of RTFM, it's a matter
of a defined variable coming back with a null value.  Or am I missing
the point of this?

Dan

-----Original Message-----
From: Andreas Ericsson [mailto:ae at op5.se] 
Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2011 10:54 AM
To: Nagios Developers List
Subject: Re: [Nagios-devel] Non existent macros are not replaced

On 03/03/2011 05:39 PM, Matthieu Kermagoret wrote:
> Hi list,
> 
> When using a non-existent macros in a command (like for example
> $SERVICEDESC$ in a host notification command), such macro is not
> replaced. It is instead left as-is on the command line.
> 
> Such construct is interpreted by the shell as a variable (usually
> empty) followed by a dollar sign which (usually) expands to a single
> dollar and lead users to believe that Nagios replace non-existent
> macros with a single dollar (see ticket #34
> http://tracker.nagios.org/view.php?id=34).
> 
> I believe this behavior is not intuitive and should therefore be
> modified to simply remove non-existent macros, as the attached patch
> does.
> 
> What do you think about it ?
> 

I think that would be quite stupid, as it would prevent users from
using shell variables in their commands, or multiple dollar-signs
for that matter. A completely unnecessary complication which would
only serve to limit Nagios' capabilities as a protection from a
completely harmless error caused by not RTFM'ing before typing.

While protecting users from making too many or too grave mistakes
is a fine thing indeed, it can be taken too far.

-- 
Andreas Ericsson                   andreas.ericsson at op5.se
OP5 AB                             www.op5.se
Tel: +46 8-230225                  Fax: +46 8-230231

Considering the successes of the wars on alcohol, poverty, drugs and
terror, I think we should give some serious thought to declaring war
on peace.

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